Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
K nox tried not to focus on the fact that he was walking a noisy ball of fluff. The dog kept leaping around and getting tangled in the lead. It barked at everything and everyone.
He’d worked with military dogs, usually German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. This thing barely rated as a dog in his world.
One step ahead of him, Nola and Orlando chatted like they’d known each other for years. In a few short blocks they’d managed to talk about shoes, fashion, real estate, and Orlando’s work as a musician, all while showering love and affection on their dogs.
“Girl—” the young man leaned in closer to Nola “—your big dude is hot .”
“I know.” Nola looked back and winked at Knox.
It made him want to kiss her.
“I’d kill to find a hot silver fox who swung my way,” Orlando added.
“You keep looking,” she said. “Don’t compromise.” Then she smiled back at Knox. “Have I mentioned that you and Cherub look so cute together?”
Knox leaned down until his mouth was close to her ear. “I will spank you if you keep it up.”
“Ooh.” Orlando slapped a hand to his chest and gave an exaggerated shiver. “Girl, you are lucky with a big shiny L.”
They turned a corner and Knox spotted the dog park. It was a fenced-in, hilly terrain, set with large rocks, that was already overrun with dogs. He knew that beyond it, lay Hudson Park and the water.
“He did try to push me away,” Nola said. “He works with my brother, and they were both in the military.”
“Ah, the bro code. You were in the off-limits zone.”
“Yes, and I didn’t like it there.”
“How long until he caved?”
“One night.”
Orlando burst out laughing.
Knox rolled his eyes to the sky.
“I am lucky.” Nola’s smile faded. “Although I’ll be better once these bad guys are off my tail.”
“I’m itching to ask questions about that.” Orlando’s face was alive with curiosity. “But I’m guessing I shouldn’t.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Knox agreed.
They crossed the street, and Orlando headed to the gate of the fenced dog run. The dogs clearly knew where they were headed, and started wriggling and jumping.
Knox scanned the surrounding streets and hoped to hell they could avoid Zolotov’s men.
But they hadn’t gone much farther when he clocked two guys—both in suits and covered in tattoos. One was a big bruiser, who was a few inches taller than Knox. From the look of his nose—that had clearly been broken several times and never healed right—he liked to fight.
The way the pair was studying the street made it obvious they were looking for someone.
Another dog walker came out of the park, with four dogs on leads. The new dogs saw Orlando’s crowd, and mayhem erupted.
The barking and ear-piercing yips made Knox wince.
“Bandit, calm down,” Orlando cried. “Gumball, no.”
The dogs rushed each other.
Shit . Cherub yanked on her leash, frighteningly strong for such a small dog. Knox hauled her back.
All the dogs entangled together, and one golden retriever managed to wrap its lead around Nola’s legs, twisting up with her dog. She tripped.
Knox lunged forward and caught her, but not before her blonde wig slid sideways, then fell off her head. It hit the ground.
One of the dogs grabbed the wig and attacked it like it was a wild animal.
“Oh, no,” she said.
Knox looked up.
The thugs were looking right at them. They spotted Nola and pointed.
“Orlando—” Knox shoved both his and Nola’s leads at the man. “Thanks for your help.”
“We have to go,” Nola said urgently.
Orlando glanced at the men surging toward them. “Oh, bad guys at six o’clock.”
“Thank you,” Nola said. “Stay safe.”
“You, too, sweet pea.” Then he winked. “Let me see what I can do to give you a head start.”
Knox lifted her off her feet and out of the canine melee. “Just keep your head down. These are the shoot first, and never ask questions, kind of guys.”
Orlando straightened and gave him the worst salute Knox had ever seen. “I’m good at dodging, big dude. Take care of our girl.”
Knox nodded. “And she’s right, don’t compromise, wait for the right guy.”
Orlando smiled.
Swiveling, Knox set Nola back down. Then he dragged her down the sidewalk. “Go!”
She pumped her arms and legs. He saw the thugs running in their direction, jackets flaring behind them.
Knox glanced toward the water and Hudson River Park. There were trees, but they had to cross some open ground to get to them. Too open. They’d be perfect targets.
Suddenly, a cacophony of barking dogs split the air.
He glanced back, so did Nola.
She started laughing.
Orlando’s dogs were leaping all over Zolotov’s men. The thugs were scowling and trying to get free.
“So sorry!” Orlando cried. He didn’t sound sorry at all.
As Knox watched, he saw Cherub run rings around one guy, until the lead snapped tight. The man went down like a fallen tree.
Huh. Maybe Knox would need to rethink his stance on Chows.
He looked forward again and his gaze fell on the large blue-and-gray building near the water.
Chelsea Piers.
“That way.” He altered course. The traffic lights ahead were red, with pedestrians crossing. “Keep going.”
They sprinted through the intersection.
He grabbed Nola’s hand and they ran toward the building. He didn’t stop to look back.
“Chelsea Piers,” she wheezed, a little out of breath.
“We’ll pass through here and hopefully lose our unwanted friends.”
Inside, the temperature dropped, and sounds echoed in the large space. They jogged up the ramp and came out at an ice rink.
Knox frowned. “That wasn’t what I expected.”
The ice was full of people. Some were skating with impressive skill, others stumbling and laughing. A small line of little kids whizzed past.
“All three piers are a huge sporting complex,” she said. “There’s ice skating, rock climbing, bowling, even golf. One pier is a driving range.”
“All right, come on.” He led her toward the ice. “We need to cross this.”
“What?” She shook her head. “No, I’m not good at balancing on slippery things. And we don’t have skates.”
“Nola, it’s the ice or the bad guys.”
She glanced behind them. “Right. Decisions, decisions.”
“Come on. Where’s my badass?”
“She’s remembering the one time Marcus Dobson took her on a date in high school. We went ice skating at the Rockefeller Center. I fell, cracked my head, and ended up with a concussion.”
Knox pushed open the gate and stepped onto the ice. He held out a hand. “I won’t let you fall.”
“Knox, there was blood, and I had a lump the size of Nebraska.”
“I won’t let you fall, Sprite.”
Her gaze moved over his face. “I know you won’t.” She put her hand in his. “You’re a good man, Knox Holman. Protective, solid, and honest. Not to mention sexy and rugged.”
As soon as she stepped onto the ice, her foot slipped.
“ Aaah .”
Knox caught her and pulled her close to his body. Several young skaters zipped around them. Nearby, a toddler being held up by her father giggled wildly.
Then movement off the ice caught his attention.
Zolotov’s men were inside.
“We need to go.” Knox turned carefully and started shuffling her across the ice.
Nola made an unhappy sound, her hands gripping his arms firmly. He tried to keep them moving with the flow of skaters, so they didn’t stand out.
They were almost to the other side of the rink when he heard loud shouts.
“I think they’ve spotted us,” Nola said.
The two thugs stepped out onto the ice. They’d only taken a few steps when one slipped, his legs going out from under him. He fell flat on his back.
“Guess he’s not an ice-skating fan either,” she said.
Knox shoved open the gate and lifted her off the ice. He took her hand. “This way.”
They sprinted past some benches and into a corridor. He spotted an external door and pulled her that way.
When they stepped outside, he saw several small cruise ships docked at the pier. To the right, was the greenery of Hudson River Park.
“Into the park.”
They sprinted down the walkway. Knox turned down one of the paths and into the trees. Nola was doing her best to keep up.
They barreled past some people on bicycles and turned a corner. Several people were wandering through the park. Closer to the water, others were sitting and lying on the grass.
He risked a glance back. The men were still coming.
One was closer to them.
And drawing a gun.
“Everyone down!” Knox roared. He tugged on Nola’s arm and yanked her off the path.
They raced across the grass and into a stand of trees. Gunfire sounded behind them, and screams broke out.
Knox slowed his pace to match Nola. They dodged around some trees and leaped over some bushes. There was more gunfire.
Knox pulled her close and dodged to the left.
“We’ll head down to the path along the water.” Hopefully they could lose the assholes and blend in.
He pulled his ball cap off and shoved it on her head. Then he yanked off his jacket. They ran down a slope and he spotted a trash can. He dropped the jacket in as they passed.
“Ugh, I’ve got a stitch,” Nola said on a sharp breath, holding her side.
“Don’t stop running.”
There was more gunfire and Knox gritted his teeth. Dammit . These idiots were going to hurt some innocent bystander.
They reached the edge of the grass. People strolled past, while others sat on benches, looking at the Hudson. There were several joggers, and people riding bicycles on the path by the river. Knox pulled Nola into a small group of people walking along the water’s edge.
“Slow down,” he murmured.
“It’s so hard.” She slowed down, fear etched on her face. “I just want to run.”
When she tried to look back, he squeezed her hand. “Look forward.”
She heaved out a shaky breath.
“I’ve got you, Nola.”
Her gaze met his. “I know.”
The trust in her eyes floored him.
Knox would do everything he could to live up to that trust and get her safe.
Nola tried to calm her racing pulse. She glanced at the water, which usually calmed her, but not today.
She barely noticed a barge moving past.
There was a commotion behind them, but Knox kept facing forward and walking, hustling her along.
How could he stay so calm?
Finally, he glanced back casually. “The two of them are splitting up. They’re searching everyone walking along the water.”
Nola gulped and fought the urge to flee. Her fingers clenched on Knox’s hand. She turned her head toward the Hudson, like she was just taking in the view. She spotted one of the men getting closer.
“Knox, he’s nearly at us,” she whispered.
“Just keep walking.”
Suddenly, the man shouted. “There she is!”
Knox whirled, just as the thug charged through two joggers, aimed at Nola.
She gasped. Knox charged forward and the men collided.
Oh, God.
All around, people screamed. Knox and the man traded heavy punches. Knox landed a vicious punch to the thug’s jaw. The man spat blood from his mouth, and charged in for more.
“You’d come after a tiny, little woman?” Knox hammered a punch to the man’s gut, then followed through with his other hand, punching him in the face.
The thug staggered and threw his arms up.
“Make you feel big and powerful to chase down a woman?” Knox punched him again.
They moved closer to the railing by the water. Zolotov’s man swung wildly, and managed to hit Knox in the side. But Knox reacted, ramming an elbow into the man’s head. As it connected, she heard a crunch, and winced.
They spun again, blood streaming down the thug’s face. Everything was a blur of kicks and punches.
Knox’s face looked like stone. “You’re not touching her, asshole. You’re done.”
He shoved the man against the railing. The thug tried to hit back, but Knox bent his knees, grabbed the man’s legs, and lifted.
She watched, shocked, as Knox hefted the man over the railing.
As he fell, the thug yelled, then there was a huge splash as he hit the water.
There were more shouts nearby. Knox grabbed her hand, and they ran.
They dodged around joggers, walkers, and tourists, and soon her lungs were burning. They raced back onto the busy street. Nola saw several scooters parked nearby. “Knox, we could take one of these.”
His brow creased. “No, we’re taking that .”
He pointed, and she saw a man getting off a hot, red motorcycle.
Knox shouldered past the man and threw his leg over the bike. “I need to borrow this.”
“Hey!” the man cried.
“Contact Sentinel Security to get it back.” Knox yanked Nola closer. “Get on.”
She gingerly climbed onto the back of the motorcycle. “Is this safe?”
“No, but it’ll be fast.” He gunned the engine, and she quickly wrapped her arms around him.
Oh, God.
With a roar of the engine, they sped onto the street.
Nola gripped him harder, the wind blowing in her face. He handled the motorcycle with an ease that told her he’d ridden before.
As they sped away, she glanced back.
She saw several Russians running into the street. Her hands flexed on Knox’s hard body. They weren’t giving up.